Casket stay for hearses



June 6, 1933. VAN DEEsT 1,912,741

CASKET STAY FOR HEARSES Filed March 26, 1932 patented June 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nanny van nnns r, or rnnnron'r, ILLInors, Assisi-non TO irnnmay MOTOR COMPANY, or Fannroar, runners, a CORPORATION or DELAWARE casxn'r STAY non nnnasns Application filed March 26, 1932. Serial No. 601,357.

This invention relates to casket stays for hearses.

The principal object of my invention is to afford a certain range of adjustment by simply placing the pins in the holes in any desired position. In furtherance of this object, the holes in the plates are made square and the shanks of the pinsof corresponding form so that the pins will hold any position in which they have been set and will positively prevent objectionable movement of the casket. I

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a hearse with the body thereof in horizontal section to show the interior and illustrating my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail 011 the line 22 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of Fig. 2, and

Figs. 1, 5, and 6 are similar views showing the pin in other positions of adjustment.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts.

The hearse shown in Figure 1 is of the type having a movabletable 10 on which the casket 11 is placed. The table 10 is movable on ways rearwardly when the door 12 is opened or forwardly and to either side when the door 13 or 1 1 is opened, this hearse being known as the 3-way service type. The seats 15 are slidable forwardly out of the way to permit movement of the table out from either side of the hearse. When the casket has been placed on the table approximately in the center, pins 16 are entered in holes in plates 17 on the table to serve'as stays. My invention is particularly concerned with improvements in the casket stays as hereinafterde scribed. I i

The plates 17, it willbe noticed, are disposed lengthwise and sidewise with respect to the casket placed on the table and are suitably secured to the table by screws 18. A series of holes 19 is provided in each of the plates evenly spaced v lengthwise thereof for reception of the pins 16 in any desired positions. The pinsare, of course, placed in the holes immediately alongside of thecasket to hold the same in place. The plates are disposed with their inner ends quite close together so that the smallest sized casket can be held in position just as readily as the largest size. Now, there is such variation in the outside dimensions of caskets, such that one would have to locate the holes 19 too close together to properly accommodate all sizes, and even so, there would be danger of the casket being left free tomove sidewise orendwise, because of. inabilityto place the pins immediately alongside the casket, due to the spacing of the holes. In accordance with my invention, the projecting or upper portion 20 of each pin is made eccentric; with respect to thelower shank portion 21 arranged to fit in the holes 19 inthe plate. The eccentricity is in such relation to the spacing of the holes so that it is possible to secure the same adjustment as with a plain pin arranged to be entered in holes located very close to-- gether. In other words, by simply turning the pin from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, an adj ustment equivalent to thedistance w is secured, which, it is apparent,is a small fraction of the distance between holes in the plate, and, by further turning the pin from the position shown in 1 to that shown in Fig. 5, a further adjustment equivalent to the distance 9 is secured. Then by shifting the pin to the next hole and turning it back to the position shown in Fig. 3, a still further adjustment equivalent to the distance 2 is secured, and so on, the extent of adjustment in each instance being approximately one-third of the distance between the holes. The holes 19 are made square and the shanks 21 of corresponding form so that the pin cannot turn from its adjusted position. In conclusion, 1'

it will be observed that a cylindrical plug of rubber or other suitable cushioning material is mounted on each of the pins, as indicated at 22, was to prevent marring of the casket by abrasion. The plugs 20 are freely rotatable on the upper portion 20 of the pins so as to roll on the outside of the casket in the event of some movement thereof, and thus minimize the likelihood of marring the same. A nut 23 threaded on the upper end of the pin serves to hold the plug 22 in place.

It should be clear from the foregoing description that I have provided adjustable casket stays adapted for holding practically any sized casket or at least confining the casket within such close limits that there can be no objectionable amount of movement.

I claim: 7

1. Casket stay means comprising a. pin plate having a series of holes provided therein spaced lengthwise thereof, and a pin having a shank portion arranged for entry selectively and detachably in any one of said holes, the upper projecting portion of the in bein dis osed 1n eccentric relation to the shank portion, whereby to permit placing the pin in different positions in any one of said holes with the projecting portion differently located with respect to said hole for the purpose described, the holes being of polygonal form and the shank portion of the pin being conformed thereto so as to predetermine the number of different operative positions of the pin, the pin being held against turning with respect to the plate from any position in any one of said holes.

2. Casket stay means comprising a pin plate having a series of holes provided therein spaced lengthwise thereof, and a pin having a shank portion arranged for entry selectively and detachably in any one of said holes, the upper projecting portion of the pin bein disposed in eccentric relation to the shan portion, whereby to permit placing the pin in different positions in any one of said holes with the projecting portion difierently located with respect to said hole for the purpose described, the holes being made square and the shank portion of the pin being of corresponding form, whereby the pin is held against turning with respect to the plate from any position of adjustment.

In witness of the foregoing I aflix my signature. 7

V HENRY VAN DEEST. 

